The sibling rivalry between the Spade brothers is not yet over, as Starz has renewed Heels for a second season.
Set in a close-knit Georgia community, the wrestling drama revolves around the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small-town pro wrestling. It centers on Duffy Wrestling League (DWL), a local pro wrestling promotion run by Jack Spade (Stephen Amell), who feuds with his brother, Ace (Alexander Ludwig), over the top spot in the promotion as well as the legacy of their father, who founded the DWL.
“It’s clear from the critical and fan acclaim that the stories and characters from the Duffy Wrestling League have made a connection with audiences bringing a community that is not often found to premium TV,” said Jeffrey Hirsch, President and CEO of Starz, in a statement announcing the show’s season 2 renewal last Wednesday. “I’m excited for our amazing cast and executive producers to get back into the ring together for a second season.”
Amell confirmed the renewal news via Twitter. “I want my belt back,” tweeted the actor, referencing how his character lost the DWL Championship in a Ladder Match at the end of the season 1 finale, which saw Crystal Tyler (Kelli Berglund) becoming the first-ever female champion of the DWL.
I want my belt back. pic.twitter.com/T9KqoJgEmJ
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) November 3, 2021
Prior to the official season 2 announcement, Heels creator Michael Waldron opened up in an interview about his hopes for the show’s sophomore run, including the potential to explore the fallout from that main event match.
“You can argue that some of the best matches and storylines [in wrestling] are happening in the women’s division. There’s that same opportunity for growth and expansion within the DWL, so it’s going to be interesting to see what Jack does with them,” Waldron told TVLine. “Kelli Berglund is obviously incredible, and what it would be like to bring in some rivals for her could be a lot of fun.”
Waldron added: “Season 1 is so much about fighting against failure. Looking to the future, it’s interesting to ponder: What are the struggles of success that this team might face together?”
In addition to the show’s season 2 renewal, Starz also announced on Wednesday that Trey Tucker and Robby Ramos have been promoted from recurring to series-regular status for the next season. Tucker plays Bobby Pin in the series, while Ramos portrays Diego Cottonmouth.
Produced by Lionsgate in association with Paramount Network Television, Heels also stars Alison Luff, Mary McCormack, Allen Maldonado, James Harrison, Roxton Garcia, Chris Bauer, and Mike O’Malley, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer.
Heels season 2 doesn’t have an exact release date yet, but production on the new batch of episodes will begin in 2022.